Portable cellular telephone and communication system thereof

ABSTRACT

A portable cellular telephone, has two separable parts, one for performing subscriber interface functions and another for performing transmitting and receiving functions on a cellular telephone network, the parts being in bidirectional communication with each other when separated. The part for performing interface functions is adapted for wireless communication with a further station or network.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a portable cellular telephone andassociated communication system with telematic services supplied bytelecommunications stations and/or networks.

In recent times, telecommunications networks have experienced anextremely fast development spreading to every society level and makingavailable to subscribers a large number of remote access servicesthrough special terminals.

The telematic services range from Internet connectivity to interactionswith other network types, which may be identified by a wide geographicalcoverage, such as a cellular telephone network, or have a localdiffusion, such as a company network, or just be simple stations forsupplying services, such as a computer. Also services having accessthrough special smartcards connected with the terminals are included inthis range of telematic services.

Therefore, subscribers need to use a plurality of terminals to provideinteraction with the telematic services, involving consequentencumbrance and management problems.

In addition, some of these terminals, in particular those using radiotransmissions, such as cellular telephones, expose the subscriber's bodyto very close radio emissions. Therefore, it is obvious how suchexposures are dangerous for the subscriber, and how, increasing thenumber of terminals causing such harmful radio emissions in contact withthe subscriber, would be extremely harmful.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the present invention to solve the above drawbacksand provide a portable cellular telephone and associated communicationsystem with telematic services supplied by telecommunications stationsand/or networks, having a more efficient and improved performance withrespect to existing solutions.

Within this framework, it is a main object of the present invention toprovide a portable cellular telephone and associated communicationsystem with telematic services supplied by telecommunications stationsand/or networks allowing concentration of the terminals required for asubscriber's interaction with the telematic services in one terminalalone, which is not harmful to the subscriber.

European patent application EP-A-781018 discloses a mobile phone devicein two parts, one part containing the high-frequency circuits and theother the low-frequency circuits. These two parts can communicatethrough wire, infrared or ultrasound connection, so that thehigh-frequency part is capable of being placed at a location where thequality of the radio link is good, while the user can still moverelatively freely holding the low-frequency part.

In order to achieve such aims, it is an object of the present inventionto provide a portable cellular telephone and associated communicationsystem with telematic services supplied by telecommunications stationsand/or networks, incorporating the features of the annexed claims, whichform an integral part of the description herein.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Further objects, features and advantages of the present invention willbecome apparent from the following detailed description and annexeddrawings, which are supplied by way of non limiting example, wherein:

FIG. 1 is an exploded prospective view of a portable cellular telephoneaccording to the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a side view of the telephone of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of the parts forming the telephone of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a flow diagram of a portable cellular telephone according tothe present invention;

FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram showing a communication system withtelematic services supplied by telecommunications stations and/ornetworks according to the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

The inventive idea lies in the use of a cellular telephone as acommunication terminal with further telecommunications networks orstations associated with telematic services, which cellular telephone isable to perform usual common terminal functions with respect to thecellular telephony network. According to the present invention, thiscellular telephone can be separated in two sections, a first partconcentrating the subscriber interface functions, the first section alsohaving a transceiver in communication with telecommunications networksor stations associated with distribution of telematic services, whereasthe second part of the cellular telephone houses the power functionsassociated with the cellular telephone network, which are potentiallyharmful to the subscriber.

FIG. 1 shows a portable apparatus for cellular telephone 10, whichconsists of a first part 11, including the telephone audio section, withearphone 12 and microphone 13, a keyboard 14 and an LCD display 15 whichperform the functions of subscriber interface functions, and a secondpart 16 containing the entire power radio section for reception andtransmission from and to the cellular network. For this purpose, thesecond part has an appropriate antenna 17 and a GSM dual-band DCStransceiver. For simplicity's sake, reference will be made to GSMsystem; however, any other current or future standard (such as UMTSstandard) can be used. The antenna may be either of the “stubby” or“patch” type.

The first and second parts can be assembled together and separated fromeach other by clips 18. When separated, the first and second parts arein communication with each other via a wireless bi-directionalconnection.

This connection can be advantageously obtained by a low power radiolink, such as at 2.4 GHz frequency with internal antennas, for exampleprovided directly in the printed circuits of the apparatus. Connectioncan be obtained with any desired protocol, preferably an encryptedprotocol, e.g. a BlueTooth standard radio link.

When both parts are assembled, they may have a bidirectional connectionthrough a pair of appropriate connectors 19, joining automatically toeach other.

The second part 16 may have a connector 20 for recharging its internalbatteries and also the internal batteries of the first part 11 throughthe connectors 19.

As shown in FIG. 4, the second part 16 (also called “power transceivingpart”) can be equipped with a further interfacing connector 21 forconnection to a personal computer 22, to allow a direct digital dataexchange with the cellular network (such as to use the second part 16for a “modem” function). The first part 11, or “control and audio part”,may advantageously have an interface 23, such as an infrared one, inparticular IrDA, for data exchange with the personal computer, i.e. thetelematic services station.

FIG. 3 shows a preferred embodiment of the apparatus according to thepresent invention.

In this preferred embodiment, the power part 16 includes the transceiversection 24 (GSM-DCS or other) mentioned above—which is not furtherdescribed nor represented since it is a common one and easilyconceivable by a man skilled in the art—and a connector 25 for asubscriber identifying module, such as a SIM or UIM, to get access tothe network. The part 16 may also have a buzzer 26, to be activated bythe part 11 to facilitate finding it should it get lost, and a vibrationcall indicator 27, which is useful to signal the subscriber about thearrival of a call when both parts are assembled forming a singleapparatus. In addition (or alternatively) the part 11 can have its ownvibration call indicator 28. This is useful whenever the power section,for example, is located somewhere else (or placed in a case) and onlythe part 11 is kept in one's pocket.

Referencing FIG. 3, besides the already mentioned earphone 12,microphone 13, display 15 and keyboard 14, the part 11 may also have aconnector for SmartCard 29, i.e. a Smartcard can be connected forenabling access to telematic services, and a connector for MultimediaCard 30, i.e. a Flash data memory card or the like.

FIG. 5 shows a communication system with telematic services supplied bytelecommunication stations and/or networks, according to the presentinvention.

As can be seen in FIG. 5, several telephones according to the presentinvention (each one having its own respective parts 11, 16) can carry ona dialog with the cellular network 31, to which conventional cellulartelephones can have access as well. In addition, each of the telephonesaccording to the present invention may have their part 11 connected (ashort distance) to a private station or network 32 through the interface23 or another wireless communicating device. All units 11 or just theenabled units 11 may connect to this private station or network, e.g.through the SmartCard 29 or Multimedia Card 30.

For example, the station 32 may be installed in the house of a cellulartelephone subscriber so as to have a private communication line betweenhome and portable telephone, or be installed within companies wanting aninternal communication system (with private access for company employeesonly) or a dedicated communication system for customers, who cansubscribe the service or obtain it as a “bonus”. The latter utilizationmay be advantageous, e.g., for banks.

From the above description the features of the present invention as wellas the associated advantages thereof are clear.

Through its separable control and audio part, the portable cellulartelephone according to the present invention is advantageously able tointeract not only with the standard cellular network, but also with afurther station or network through another wireless connecting devicearranged on the control and audio part. Advantageously, the subscribercan utilize the control and audio part to have access also to otherservices not provided by the cellular telephony network, such as companyservices, bank services or household network services. Moreover, theavailability of smartcards and multimedia card connectors allowsconfiguration of the control and audio part as a true multiserviceterminal.

The portable cellular telephone according to the present invention canbe separated, whenever desired, into a power part to be placed atdistance from the subscriber body, and a control and audio part with allsubscriber interface functions usually available in a conventionalcellular telephone, without any high power radio irradiations locatednear the subscriber's body.

The portable cellular telephone according to the present invention willadvantageously use a radio transmission for connection between the twotelephone parts, whose power is much lower than required for GSMtransmission.

It is obvious that many changes are possible, for the man skilled in theart, to the portable cellular telephone and communication system withtelematic services supplied by telecommunications stations and/ornetworks thereof described above by way of example, without departingfrom the novelty and spirit of the innovative idea, and it is also clearthat in practical application of the invention the components may oftendiffer in form and size from the ones described and be replaced withtechnically equivalent elements.

For example, other functions and accessories may be provided, such as anFM radio, MP3 audio decoder functions, Voice Memo and Dialing, WebBrowser, etc.

The use of a standard radio link between the two parts will also allowconnection of the control and audio module, other than connection withits own power part, to other equipment compatible with this standard.The power part 16 can also be used on its own as a GSM transceiving unitconnected to a computer (preferably a portable one) for practical dataexchange through the network.

1. A portable cellular telephone, having a first part comprising interface means for performing subscriber interface functions for sending and receiving messages and a second part comprising transceiver means for transmitting and receiving said messages over a telecommunications cellular telephone network, said first part and second part being releasably connected to each other, said second part having sufficient power to transmit over a cellular telephone network, said first part and second part comprising complementary means for wireless bidirectional communication with each other when separated for transmitting messages initiated by said subscriber at said first part to said second part for further transmission over said cellular telephone network, and for transmitting messages received from said cellular telephone network by said second part to said first part for reception by said subscriber, said first part further comprising means for wireless communication with a further telecommunications network or with a telecommunication station, said first part lacking sufficient power to transmit over a cellular telephone network.
 2. A portable cellular telephone, according to claim 1, wherein said means for wireless communication comprises a radio.
 3. A portable cellular telephone, according to claim 2, wherein when said parts are connected, direct communication takes place therebetween.
 4. A portable cellular telephone, according to claim 3, wherein the second part further comprises a connector for the reception and transmission of digital data through the cellular network.
 5. A portable cellular telephone, according to claim 1, wherein the means for wireless communication comprises an infrared connection.
 6. A portable cellular telephone, according to claim 1, wherein said infrared connection puts the first part in communication with a computer.
 7. A portable cellular telephone, according to claim 1, wherein said means for wireless communication comprises a short distance connection to the station or network.
 8. A portable cellular telephone, according to claim 1, wherein said means for wireless communication comprises a standard radio link utilized for bidirectional communication with the second part.
 9. A portable cellular telephone, according to claim 1, wherein said first part comprises a connector for a SmartCard or Multimedia Card.
 10. A portable cellular telephone, according to claim 1, wherein said means for performing subscriber interface functions comprises a keyboard, a display and means for performing audio functions.
 11. A portable cellular telephone, according to claim 1, comprising means for performing FM radio functions and/or MP3 audio decoder functions and/or Voice Memo and Dialing functions and/or Web Browser functions.
 12. A communication system with telematic services supplied by telecommunication stations and/or networks, which provides utilization of subscriber terminals for information exchange with said telecommunication stations or networks, comprising a subscriber terminal which includes a portable cellular telephone having a first part comprising interface means for performing subscriber interface functions and a second part comprising transceiver means for transmitting and receiving over a telecommunications cellular telephone network, said second part having sufficient power to transmit over a cellular telephone network, said first part and second part being releasably connected to each other, said first part and second part comprising complementary means for wireless bidirectional communication with each other when separated for transmitting messages initiated by said subscriber at said first part to said second part for further transmission over said cellular telephone network, and for transmitting messages received from said cellular telephone network by said second part to said first part for reception by said subscriber, said first part further comprising means for wireless communication with a further telecommunications network or with a telecommunication station, said first part lacking sufficient power to transmit over a cellular telephone network, said communications system further comprising means for enabling at least one of the telecommunication stations or networks to communicate directly and wireless with said means for wireless communication.
 13. A communication system with telematic services supplied by telecommunication stations and/or networks, according to claim 12, wherein the telecommunication station or telecommunication network is a company internal communication station or network and/or a station or network for authorized customers.
 14. A communication system with telematic services supplied by telecommunication stations and/or networks, according to claim 13, wherein said company internal telecommunication station or network and/or station or network for authorized customers is a bank services network.
 15. A communication system with telematic services supplied by telecommunication stations and/or networks, according to claim 12, wherein said telecommunication station or network is an internal household communication station or network. 